Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: George Whitesides
Current job title: Aerospace Businessman
Political party affiliation: Democrat
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: former NASA Chief of Staff
City where you reside: Agua Dulce
Campaign website or social media: georgewhitesides.com
Californians will decide on a proposition this November that would scale back some of Proposition 47, a 2014 voter-approved measure that reduced penalties for certain theft and drug offenses. What is one way the federal government could help states like California balance criminal justice reform with enforcing the law? (Please be specific with your proposal, and keep your answer to 200 words or less.)
It’s abundantly clear that we have to get these smash-and-grabs and attacks on our local businesses under control, and do more to keep our communities safe. The Homelessness, Drug Addiction & Theft Reduction ballot measure – which reforms Prop. 47 – should be part of the solution, and I will vote for it this November.
In Congress, I’ll work to increase funding for law enforcement and support efforts to help recruit more deputies and ensure our sheriff’s stations are fully staffed. I will also work hard to increase funding for the COPS program, which funds our LA County law enforcement.
Unlike Congressman Mike Garcia, who has repeatedly voted to cut funding for law enforcement, I believe we must always stand with those who keep our neighborhoods safe. By collaborating with local law enforcement agencies and community leaders, we can develop public policy at the federal level that addresses our challenges and creates a safer reality for all our residents.
Recent efforts to expand the federal deduction for state and local taxes, called SALT, have failed. What changes would you like to see, if any, to SALT? (Please keep your answer to 200 words or less.)
I support tax cuts for working- and middle-class Californians and small businesses. We need to lower costs for California families, which means restoring the SALT deduction. The SALT cap was an unfair double tax on California families and needs to be reversed. In an extreme, do-nothing Congress, Rep. Mike Garcia has failed to deliver SALT relief to this district.
President Joe Biden has called for an overhaul of the U.S. Supreme Court, including mandatory ethics rules. What reforms, if any, do you believe the Supreme Court needs, and how would they be enforced? (Please be specific with your proposal, and keep your answer to 250 words or less.)
As a former Chief of Staff of NASA, I’m very familiar with the code of ethics that federal employees abide by. The Supreme Court should be held to the same ethical standards, and those rules should be enforced.
Should there be an age limit imposed on presidential candidates? What about Congress or Senate? If so, what is that limit?
No.
Would you support legislation that protects women’s access to in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments nationwide? Why or why not? (Please be specific in your answer, and limit your response to 200 words.)
Yes. In Congress, I will vote to protect abortion rights, including access to IVF and contraception. Meanwhile, my opponent Rep. Mike Garcia co-sponsored the national abortion ban with no exceptions for rape and incest, which threatens access to IVF and would override California’s protections.
The Republican Party’s platform, following the summer convention, calls for the “largest deportation effort in American history.” Is this something you support? If so, what would such an effort look like? If not, how would you assuage concerns about border security? (Please be specific in your response, and keep it to 250 words or less.)
Our immigration system is broken. We need leaders in Congress who will put politics aside to actually fix the problem, not just play political games. That means finally securing our border with investments in advanced technology, hiring more border patrol agents and immigration judges, deporting migrants here without valid asylum claims, upgrading ports of entry, and building physical infrastructure where it makes sense. I have spent my career solving problems, and in Congress I will work with anyone – regardless of party – to improve border security and fix our immigration system in a way that strengthens our economy and is true to our history as a nation of immigrants.
Cost of living is high on the list of concerns among voters, particularly among younger people. What is one bipartisan proposal you have to alleviate concerns about high prices or cost of living? (Please be specific in your response, and limit it to 200 words.)
We’re all feeling the effects of inflation and higher costs of living. I will fight day in and day out to lower your healthcare, housing, gas, and grocery bills. I have spent my career solving problems and I will use my business experience to get housing and fire insurance costs under control, cut taxes for homeowners, lower health care and prescription drug costs, invest in an all-of-the above energy plan to reduce gas and energy prices, cut taxes for the middle class by expanding the SALT deduction, and protect Social Security and Medicare.
Californians continue to point to housing affordability as one of their top concerns. What is something the federal government could do to lessen the financial burden people feel, whether that’s with renting or buying a house? (Please be specific in your answer, and limit it to 200 words or less.)
We need a transformational ‘Apollo-like’ housing program in America and in our district. We have to cut taxes for homeowners and crack down on predatory landlords, while ensuring that there’s enough housing in our district. I understand the importance of mixed-income neighborhoods and support both public and private investment in affordable housing initiatives to ensure that individuals and families of all backgrounds have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing opportunities. SALT reform would also help lessen the tax burden on homeowners in our district.
What do you see the federal government’s role as in helping local municipalities tackle homelessness? (Please be specific in your answer, and limit it to 200 words or less.)
Priority number one has to be building more housing, and building more housing fast. Beyond making more units available, I also believe that Congress can and should improve funding and programs around issues that also affect homelessness – whether that is helping to lower healthcare costs and ensure Americans have access to quality affordable healthcare, or increasing public safety budgets so our local law enforcement is equipped with the funding and resources they need to keep our communities safe and healthy.
After Tesla chief executive Elon Musk shared an AI-generated video purporting to be Vice President Kamala Harris’ voice, Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed to enact legislation to make it illegal to manipulate someone’s voice in an ad. What is something the federal government could do to protect people from deep-fakes, or false AI-generated images, videos and audio? (Please be specific in your response, and keep your answer to 200 words or less.)
This is an issue I’m deeply concerned about. As the father of two ‘tweens,’ I recognize the urgent need to address the crisis in teenage mental health that has been exacerbated by social media use. While technology has provided incredible opportunities for connection and communication, it has also introduced huge new challenges, including online safety risks, cyberbullying, and the proliferation of deepfake AI-generated imagery. To tackle these issues, I support a multi-faceted approach that combines innovation with responsible regulation. This includes investing in research to better understand the impact of social media on adolescent mental health, partnering with technology companies to develop and implement robust online safety measures, and promoting digital literacy programs in schools to empower students to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.
What is one local infrastructure project you would push to secure funds for in the federal budget? (Please be specific in your answer.)
The Antelope Valley is rich with opportunities for clean energy development. Right now, the City of Lancaster is a local hydrogen hub as part of the DOE’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) program. We’re on the frontlines of innovation, working to be part of a national hydrogen network. In Congress, I’ll work to ensure that this project continues to receive funding, and that we’re continuing to invest in incubators, innovators, and local entrepreneurs who will improve our infrastructure – whether we’re working on local broadband, clean energy, or improving our roads.
What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected? (Please be specific with your policy proposal, and keep your answer to 200 words or less.)
As a co-founder of Megafire Action, the first policy organization dedicated to solving our nation’s megafire crisis, I’m committed to safeguarding our communities from catastrophic wildfires and addressing the home fire insurance crisis. I recognize the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate fire risks and protect homeowners while ensuring the stability of the insurance market. This entails investing in wildfire prevention and response efforts and giving our firefighters the tools and funding they need to carry out this critical work. Additionally, I will advocate for incentives for homeowners to undertake fire-resistant home improvements and for a new Antelope Valley wildfire detection testing and development center.
What’s the No. 1 song on your playlist while you’re on the campaign trail?
Happy by Pharrell
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